Both step into the arena.
Captain: "Time to end your whole career. At the end of this, you won't even walk."
MAJOR: "Get ready."
The captain enters his man-beast form. His body twists, scales rippling across his skin as he transforms into a man-fish. His arm reshapes into a long, razor-sharp swordfish blade glinting under the sun.
David drops into his stance, fists raised, eyes locked on the captain.
MAJOR: "FIGHT."
The captain explodes forward, a blur of motion. He closes the distance in an instant and swings his blade arm slicing through the air with a sharp hiss.
David raises his palm. No touch. Just a shift of weight and focus. The blade meets nothing but air as he deflects the strike without contact redirecting the force like water around a stone.
Then the captain strikes again, aiming for his face.
David parries the same way and this time, the impact of the deflection sends a blast of wind roaring outward. It hits the captain square in the head, a pressure wave that snaps his neck back and shoves him off balance. The gust howls past David's ears, whipping his hair and clothes like a storm front.
The captain skids back, feet dragging trenches in the dirt.
Captain: "I felt that one." He touches his face, eyes narrowing. "How did you do that, you runt?"
David doesn't answer. He surges forward, striking fast and precise aiming for the captain's pressure points. His knuckles dig into the soft gaps between armor-like scales. Each hit drives the captain back, his stance crumbling.
One final blow sends him stumbling. His legs give out.
But before he hits the ground, the captain's wings snap open a flash of membrane and bone. He catches himself and shoots upward, hovering above the arena, shadow falling over David.
Captain: "You think a few tricks are enough?"
David stays low, ready. The wind from the captain's ascent stirs dust devils around him, but his eyes never leave the sky.
David got his wings ready too, but stayed on the ground. He planted his feet, arms up in fists, then opened his palms.
The captain lowered his sword into a spear and flew at lightning speed. To the average Air Force man watching, it looked like a blur but David saw it. The captain was moving at the speed of sound.
At that moment, David thrust one palm forward, shoving the captain to the side. The deflection sent a shockwave rippling through the air. Then he boosted himself up and dropped down like a bomb.
Bang.
The ground cratered. Sand and dust erupted in a geyser.
The captain's arm got trapped in the sand. He looked to the side—a round bomb sat beside him, ticking.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Boom.
A shockwave blasted around him, flinging sand and debris in all directions.
Captain: "Zzzzzzzzzzzz..." He shook off the ringing in his ears, gritting his teeth. "How does a rookie land a blow on me? Lucky this ain't sea water I'd beat you like nothing."
David got greedy. He went for a slam kick, dropping down fast.
The captain ripped his arm free and sliced upward.
David dodged into the air but not fast enough. A diagonal slash opened across his chest. Blood gushed from the wound, painting the sand below.
Captain: "You got sloppy. Time to capitalize."
He launched himself into the air after David.
David met him mid-flight. Another palm deflected the captain's attack then a kick to the gut, a palm to the back, sending the captain falling hard to the ground.
The captain slammed into the earth, dust clouding around him. He pushed himself up, trembling with rage.
Captain: "Got up again..." His fists clenched. "This guy he's doing no damage, but he's making me look weak."
The captain threw a gas grenade. It exploded instantly, thick smoke billowing across the arena. He pulled on x-ray goggles and dashed forward same blinding speed.
Slice after slice. David couldn't track him. Each cut landed, shallow but fast. Blood trickled from new wounds across his arms, his sides.
David tried to see the movement. He could barely track it.
Then he remembered deep water. The pool. He couldn't see Xuelong clearly back then either. Only the motion of the water. Only the ripples.
He stopped looking for the captain. He started looking at the gas. The wind.
Then he saw it. A faint shift in the smoke. A disturbance in the air.
He deflected the next cut palm against blade, redirecting the force. A second slice came. He deflected that too. Again. Again. Each time, his palms found the strike before it landed.
Then a gut punch. No fist, just an open palm, but the captain felt it like a gorilla's fist slammed into his stomach. He doubled back, gasping.
The captain snarled and pointed his sword to the side, twisting it in a spiral. Air began to whip around the blade, faster and faster, pulling dust and debris into a funnel.
Captain: "This'll hurt badly. Air Tornado."
A massive tornado roared toward David, spinning with razor winds.
David didn't know what to do. But instinct took over. He stepped aside at the last second pushed the blade face to the side with one palm, then struck the captain's back with the other.
The tornado veered. But the blade caught his cheek and arm, slicing deep. The captain went flying, slamming into the ground.
The Lieutenant Colonel was about to end the fight when a robot displayed a projection. Footage played the captain making deals, the stolen cyberware, the illegal cargo.
The captain got up, furious, ready to counterattack.
Major: "Time's up. Now decision."
The captain dashed forward anyway.
The Major appeared in front of him at high speed. "Captain, time's up. You're higher rank. Respect the fight. It's over."
He brought both hands together and slammed down with a hammer strike, sending the captain flying into the ground.
Lieutenant Colonel: "By decision David landed the most blows and most downs. But the captain dealt more damage."
He paused, letting the weight settle.
"David wins by a hair."
Then they meet up at the base.
All three are there. David is banged up bandages all over him, pale.
Lieutenant Colonel: "Based on recent info, speak, Captain Murdoch Thorne."
Captain Murdoch Thorne: "Sir, I did no such thing. I was framed."
Major: "Good point. Even if you were framed, how can you explain the false info we got telling us you fought the thieves' guild single-handedly while the Foreman and his men were beaten and ran? Your words, sir."
"Then our second source says the Foreman and his crew took care of most of the thieves and a client of theirs named 'Nameless.' Also, David took out one guy. Good job, kid."
"David even called you out. So trial starts now."
Murdoch Thorne: "Wait, I can explain"
Lieutenant Colonel: "I am speaking, Captain. Who do you want? Jail time? Shut it."
"Now, you are demoted as promised."
He turns to David.
"David, you get a promotion to Second Lieutenant, with Captain Ignatius Thorne as the new First Lieutenant."
"Then your new captain" He checks his papers. "will be a robot. How suspicious. This unit has been offline for years. How did it disobey an order? Anyway, it must be fixed."
"You two will be taking orders from Eco. Captain Eco will be in charge now."
"And his orders? Let's see. Go to Aquanova."
He looks up. "Any questions?"
David: "Thanks, sir. Just one don't I need to learn more?"
Major: "You'll learn on the job. From others around you."
Murdoch Thorne: "Why such a low rank? I worked hard."
Major: "If that's all, we're done. And Captain we can go lower if you want."